Infocus Related products

Enhancing skin illumination - The eagle-eyed may have noticed a developing trend for skin 'lighteners', topicals that aim to brighten skin and diffuse the pigmentation marks that put years on a face. Dark patches age skin as much as lines do, so it makes sense that topicals should lessen these, too. This is often done well with optical diffusers that throw light from surface darkness, and properties - sunscreens and antioxidants such as vitamin E - that prevent further patches. Cryotherapy is the best professional treatment (I had my patches done by Dr Susan Mayou at the Cadogan Clinic, 020-7901 8500), but if you want to try a home topical first these are excellent: La Prairie White Caviar Illuminating Cream contains antioxidants to tackle pigmentation and skin slackness (£260, Harrods, 020-7730 1234). Wei Tibetan White Lotus Moisture Rich Hydrating Cream with reishi mushroom and ginseng to boost luminosity (£66,
spacenk.co.uk
).

THE COMEBACK

Elizabeth Arden Vintage Eight Hour Cream - Its formula is almost unchanged since it first appeared in the 1930s (as rumour has it, originally as an emollient for Miss Arden's racehorses' hooves), and Eight Hour Cream is still a first-rate conditioning balm for dry patches. To celebrate its 100th anniversary, Arden has decanted it into a vintage-style glass pot (£18, 020-7574 2714).

BEST SHOP

At Ormonde Jayne, founded by the English nose Linda Pilkington, you will find luxury fragrances, bath and body care products, hand-blended with oils rarely used in today's all-too-commercial perfume business. Frangipani (£68) is particularly exquisite. Royal Arcade, Old Bond Street, London W1 (020-7499 1100). To vote for your favourite independent beauty retailer in our Best Small Shops in Britain Awards, and for the chance to win a fabulous prize, visit
telegraph.co.uk/shopawards
before December 10

AWARD FOR KATE SHAPLAND

Kate Shapland has been honoured with an Achiever Award by Cosmetic Executive Women. CEW is the beauty industry's respected philanthropic networking organisation; its Achiever Awards are given each year in recognition of the recipients' contributions to the business - in Shapland's case for the integrity and accessibility of the content of this page over the past eight years. Her fellow achievers were Andrea Jung, the chairman and CEO of Avon (Lifetime Achiever); Michelle Feeney, the CEO of St Tropez; Sian Sutherland, a founding partner of Mama Mio; and Angela Rowley, the general manager of Estée Lauder and Tom Ford Beauty. Robin Vincent, the MD of Clarins UK, received a Special Industry Award.